Steam electric flatiron for domestic household use



P 29, 1953. J. o. THIBAULT 2,653,398

STEAM ELECTRIC FLATIRON FOR DOMESTIC HOUSEHOLD USE Filed July 7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7 .7 20 5a .45 t 1 80 v //6 86 l 87 I 55 Z Z2 1 2/ Z I J4 49 5 i 35 as 8/ 75 I 4 26' a2 44 43 i 0 I.

3nventor STEAM ELECTRIC FLATIRON FOR DOMESTIC HOUSEHOLD USE Filed July 7, 1949 J. o. THIBAULT Sept. 29, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Am R r Jnveutor Jame 0h 0. 77z a'ault P 29, 1953 .1. o. THIBAULT 2,653,398

STEAM ELECTRIC FLATIRON FOR DOMESTIC HOUSEHOLD USE Filed.July '7, 1949 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zmnemor W MW (Ittornegs Patented Sept. 29, 1953 STEAM ELECT-RIC FLATIRON FOR 'no vmsrlo'nousltnolin USE Jos h Q- h a l s, swarm Bridgeport, Conn. assignor etsj Corporation," Bridgeport;

C(H lil! a e rusitat gn of Conneetieut Application. July? 1949, Serial No. 103,437

(01. git-:77)

'Ehie nventien r a e a et emre etr at mg hi qt i he. uventien s t Pro de a tie :ele r e fla i tqn adap able or ei her ry. er t am. rqn ne w h s of; mpreved con t ue: tion to provide fer eer ased liquid apacity. an at he same t me edu d verall size an w i ht- Anet er eleieetef heinye tion s ep qv de an m o d; s eam-electric ir n et dins to, the Qr eQ e which. iS extreme s mp e to e e et at e aeterr and eel-m et in its p ration, Pa t ula y w h. r ards to pr v nt en i. e u t ers; whe he ten. is bein refi ed Wh e ot a d re entien at dischar e o wate W e steam wh n e ron s ei vigorously ma n-s ulated during the ironing.

S ill anothe Qbi et oi the nvention is to pr i e e5 K PFQYBQ; s eam-e eet ie on of the type av n a h ns d y-meunted hand e structure carty ng fi er plus 9 closure, w e in t e s a ts a of; the 111s may be qu ck y and eco: pmita ly re ewed r re laced.

Ye ene he elti e of the retent n s o. pm: lid? e ept-eyed te m-e ee rie ron i a ord: t me with the tseeei...g- With m be q ie iy an easily e e edinsted: or h d f en hea s deet a with lit le thence. f r er r- A still further object of the invention is to PEQV FE an Emi ieea fiat. ren h ra te zed as above, iyh-ieh is extremely simple in OQDStruotion ted: e9 e ite; 9 tal nt ested: du e a teeters t e in en r: is -rev e en f a st m-tit n? -Qn. h a o e. t pe which m v ea l eu e y d sm ntled r se ve W e o e we t as ar s it th s shou d be teesee u ac m 1s t e. eb-eye object I pro id im -W d 9 l:ll t le pr sin an. eieetrically heatedsole plate and a horizontal boiler ew a e th 9 P a i o ative e tie t eta s i teiler e mer smee ma or a O a s new a n et ttu e Wh eh orms the en ire; d 'e'f th 1mm said ea n s rue ure e e arr n a e n e a team-met 1 ee e the eele plate an p ovi e a h sin f r he m sta ie t n ol mea o t e i n an to ad it o all provide a stur y a d e ee ve r tte 'ier the tast st? u e T e a le truc ur em ri eses en eli sin e m lded part eonsistin'g oi a handle proper, upright posts te w se t beet e reset and t ads nt erally' h riz tal base portion overlying the top s at m ai here ee ior av n a epenr' ing at the back" of therear post to enable a thermqe etiq seawater k ee wh ch is e rned by the. casing, to be exposed through the opening for convenient manipulation.

At thev rear, of the flat iron the casing is recessed to provide oppositelfdisposed' dpstariding portions, between which the'rear part "of the base portion of the handle strueture. extends. In conjunction with this arrangement a sir'nple and advantageous pivot means is provided, hingedly connecting the handle struotu re to, the casing. By Virtue of the unitary'con'struetion' of the casing, and of the handle structure, the parts which make up the flat iron are substantially reduced in number, and the 'c os-t and number of assembly operations also reduced} thereby enabling the iron to be Very. eeonomioally fabri- Gated.

The easing encloses the electrio terminals for the heating element, and is proyided with an opening and a removable cover plate for said ope n eeth t wh e er at e i e t handle strueture is swung back. 'Ilhus servicing operations involving the electric; supply cord and terminals to hieh the Cord is eonneeted,

may be readily ertorm d w t requiring any extensive dismantling of the iron.

The stopper structure by which the filler opening of the boiler is closed,- ineludes an inexpensive, quickly and easily removable and replaceable valve consisting of two sheet metal disks and a ringformed of resilient sealing; material, m nte be wee he Per hera er e e e the disks. This assembly is readily removed from a y e e s p o t ovided n t e nder de o he a e s ru ure e n eeq m eel o febrioate because o t the few parts which it has.

Improved and novel bafile means are provided within the boiler, arranged in spaced relation to the steam outlet pipe whereby any internal plashi o e. quid content of the boiler cannot cause a discharge of said liquid through the steam pipe. Thus the flat iron may be vigorously manipulated without danger of overwetting he: g men s bein i o e Other features and advantages will hereinafter ap ear- I he ccompanyin drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken through the center part of the improved steam electric iron of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top View of the iron, with the tail portion of the handle broken away to show the temperature adjustment knob more fully.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear 'elevational view of the iron, the upper portion of the handle being omitted.

4 is a view like Fig. 3 but with the handle complete and with part of the casing and hanstrueture broken away to reveal the pivot means between these parts.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the iron with the handie structure swung back and shown in section, and with part of the casing of the iron broken away and sectioned to reveal interior details.

6 is a bottom view of the handle structure of the iron.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan view of the rear part of the fiat iron casing, with the tempera ture adjusting knob and shaft removed.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a transverse view partly in section and partly in elevation, the section being taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 shows another embodiment of the invention, being a fragmentary sectional view of an improved and novel valve and closure assembly.

Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 10 but with the valve and boiler funnel omitted.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the valve member of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line l8l3 of Fig. 12, and

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line Ml4 of Fig. 10, showing a part of the underside of the handle unit, and the mounting plate for the valve construction shown in Figs. 10 through 13.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 5, the improved steam-electric iron of this invention as shown therein includes a sole plate [0 having a heating fled casing, handle and boiler structures are provided whereby relatively small size and large liquid capacity are obtained in the iron, and whereby extreme simplicity in the construction and fabrication of the iron is achieved with corresponding economy in manufacture, all in an organization characterized by uncovering of the boiler filler opening by the simple operation of swinging the handle structure upward and back.

Specifically I provide an improved, combined metal boiler and easing structure [3 adapted to be secured above and to the sole plate H3, said structure having but very few parts which are permanently joined together into a single unit which constitutes not only the boiler of the iron but also the entire metal casing. The boiler and easing unit !3 carries a unitary handle structure l4, both of said units being shaped and arranged to interfit at their rear portions and to be pivotally connected together thereat. Except for the sole plate It and a latch knob 15 and thermostat knob l6, the units l3 and M constitute practically the entire iron structure which presents surfaces outwardly and determines the shape of the iron, its appearance and structural or frame characteristics. The handle unit is preferably of molded construction, being formed entirely in one piece and having a handle proper [1, front and rear upright posts It and i9 respectively, and a generally fiat base portion Eli including a rearward, downward extension 2|, said base portion overlying most of the top surfaces of the boiler and casing l3 and preventing inadvertent contact with the casing by an operator.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 7 through 9,

the casing and boiler unit i3 includes a boiler 22 having a lower or bottom wall 23, a top wall 24, and front and rear walls 25 and 28. The boiler 22 also has side walls 21, Fig. 9. According to this invention the top wall 24 is extended rearwardly and shaped to provide a generally sloping recessed portion defined by a wall extension 28 which terminates in a downturned flange 29. The side walls 21 of the casing and boiler are also extended rearwardly past the rear boiler wall 26, and together with the top wall 24 provide a pair of bulbous, raised portions or wings 30 on opposite sides of the recessed casing portion, or wall extension 28. As shown in Figs. 4, 7, and 3 the bulbous portions 39 present opposed walls 3| which border on the wall extension 28.

In constructing the casing and boiler unit $3 I preferably employ two formed sheet-metal pieces, one piece constituting the bottom wall 23 of the boiler and the rear wall 26 thereof, and the other piece constituting the remaining walls of the boilerthose numbered 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30 and SI. The sheet-metal piece comprising the boiler walls 23 and 26 I preferably form with a flange 32 around its edge, adapted to be secured to the walls 24, 25 and 21 by brazing or by other suitable processes. The upper wall 24 of the boiler has a filler opening 33, Fig. 5, provided with a funnel member 34 adapted to cooperate with a disk-like valve assembly 35 which latter is carried by the underside of the base portion 20 of the handle structure. The valve 35 is thus conviently operated to close or open the boiler opening 33 by virtue of its being mounted on the pivoted handle unit Ill.

By this invention, the rear extension 2! of the base portion 20 of the handle unit is shaped to be received and accommodated between the bulbous portions or wings 30 of the casing and novel simplified pivot means are provided between said portions and the extension 25 whereby the handle unit l4 may be swung upward and backward as shown in Fig. 5, to uncover the filler opening 33, or swung downward over the casing and locked thereto as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to close the filler opening 33 and enable the iron to be put in use.

This pivot means, referring to Fig. 4, comprises pins 36 carried in recesses 31 in the rear extension 2| of the handle unit, said pins having reduced-diameter end portions 38 which extend into apertures 39, Fig. 8, in the walls 3! of the bulbous portions 30 0f the casing. The pivot pins 36 are hollow and carry compression springs 40 by which they are normally yieldably urged outward of the recesses 31, thereby to maintain the shoulders 4! of the pins in engagement with the opposed walls 3| or" the casing.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the tips 38 of the pins 36 extend into the cavities of the bulbous portions 30 of the casing. When the casing is removed from the sole plate 10, the said cavities of the bulbous portions will be open at the bottom of the casing, so that a screw driver or like tool might be inserted and used to pry the pins 36 out of engagement with the casing by engaging the ends 38 of the pins and depressing said ends. Instead of a screw driver, a tool having a hook-shaped end might be used to more efiectively shift the pins 36 out of engagement with the casing. In this manner, the handle structure may be easily and quickly separated from the casing.

I have thus, as clearly set forth above, provi edan extrem ly simo eand efieoti e oirot means between handle unit A an the c s ne structu e it: and have so: ion i and casing units that are ely' simple to fabri ate and rod a and are; th sa time. Sliddy and. reliable tor the purposes. desired. Mor o eis. the onstructi is hat a. relatively la ge oapac ty is ad: t e, boiler y. tog her wi h. s all o erallize and ei ht oi e on.-

The casing unit l3 may be seemed to the sole plate ll by a screw 42. t, to rear oi h iron, and. by a. sl eye; ut. 43 at th iron oi: he iron said n t. being, hreaded stsamohe 61w h passes. through the pper nd lowe holler walls 24 and 23 and is thread-ed- 111i? it. cover plate 4.5- seoured. o er a suosrh ater i in the. sole plate, l .As is. We l understood, the sole p ate It p o: vided with a plurality of steam escape openings 41 communicat g with. the chamb r it, here y steam which has enteredv the. lattert ro sh the steam pipe 44 may be d cha ged at the bot om of the sole plate.

The upper wall 24 o th boiler 22 has a s e dome 4%! into which the steam P pe 4 e s, and it will be understood that steam which is generated the boiler 22 will pass into the steam dome and downward through the steam pipe M, to be discharged from the bottom of the sole plate H).

In accordance with this invention the handle unit I 4 is recessed and apertured at the rear of the upright post [9 to enable a portion only of the adius i; nob to oi he ther ta to project and to be accessible for manipulation. As shown in F e- 1. this ad us ing kn b is arried on a shaft 49 W11. h pass s throu the up per Wall 24 of the casing and is connected with the thermostat l2 to adjust or set the latter. Referrin o Fiesv and handle un t ii is. pro d d w a circular shield or over ate to be n ind oia or pr vided on the too o the knob ma be v wed throu h the 'W QQW oi the shield, I will he noted that when the handle 11 M is swun upwar and haokward. as F he shie d to is carr ed w th the unit as the a jus n n b it of the thermos at is om p et ly exposed wh eby it may be readily removed, :i shou d he io nd necess r The :knob It may have a knurled eriphery provided with an index mark 53 ior reference with indioia 54 on a plate 55.5 oar-ried by the rear extension 211 of the handle unit.

According to the invention, means are on vided, positioned with particular reference to the improved handle unit I 4,'W: 9. by access may be conveniently had to te m nals 5.5 for a sup. ply cord. L57 .of the iron, see Figs, '1 and '7. The terminals :5 are connected in the usu l mann r with the thermostat switch 112 and the heatin element ll. To enable these terminals to be readiiy reached the hand e unit M i swun upward and h. Ward, the t all e ten sion 25 of the c sine 1.31s provid d-x .th open ing .58, Fi of a size and location s11. 11 that a screwdriver may lee readily brought into oneasement with the terminals 5.6 for ztiah or loosening the same. .A shown ile. a cover plate :59 is provided tor .olosing over the opening .58, the cover plate being secured to zilhfi wall 12.8 by suitable screws-which may be readily re ched when. t e knob; i isrei ioyed. fr m the shaft he o er plate 59 has. a be r :1 ti i n agement ith th ft is to s on rt th same i r rotati n n its up ri t position, the port on so being p eferabl termed by ihe the, metal o he r Pi the Wl kno n m nner By he presen in nti n. an mproved and simplified clo ur tructure s pro ided tor the openng -33, or the. hoilerflZiZ, whereby an y closing of aid n g is accom l he th han e ni t i i the o a e oo-v si on sh wn n'i nd her h va 1 he uiolsl and co en ent mo d V inimum of cost.

J id 11' and '1 his o pro. closure s ure comprises a sealing ring or o i formed oi resil nt aske ma terial o so rubber r u b rk substance he said being ar b t ee e peripher l sortie... t2 nd, 63 o a air o d ks st and 5.5- W h are sec red o e r in b ad id. at hl sbi spot lding The ph per t2 and; 6.3 of he is r h' h for o iiirise ha ng pa tly cu ar ss c i n and the cross section of the sealing ring 6! is whereby a dose fit s pr v ded be we n these parts. Th disk 6 5 has a raised central portion Gowprovided with a slot. 65 having an enlarged and 61 adapted to receive the head portion 63 of a stud 59 carried by a mounting plate E8 secured to the underside of the base portion 2a of the handle structure. The stud 69 carries a helical compression spring H and flan ed asher 12 w ic a te s ng g d by s rin he oreah at n be ng c ha stud Wash r n r h d in e -v tended position, as shown in Fig, 11.

he assem y sho n izl3 comprising the disks 64 and 65 and the sealing ring .64 may be moun ed th stu t b Pa si the o tion i of the stud t ou h la end ii of the s ot as a d th n s i tin e valve struoture e sew-ise un i the stud 69 is ontralizsd the dish to Pre e a y tabs i r stru k down .a isoent he lar e nd. p t o of the slot 55, thereby to engage the head portion 6.3 of the stud and prevent inadvertent dislodgement of the valve structure from the stud.

As shown in Fig. 10, when the handle unit I4 is in its operative position, the sealing ring on is made to en a e the unn l i n the ll openin 33 n er pr ssu e p ovided y h il sprin ii, resultin i the idler o ening of the boiler being efiectiyely closed,- The stud 59 is nreferahly ided w th a o s to ho m ddate a second coil s rin is wh ch he ses t base portion is or the handle s uc and looseness o the stud t he h n struc ure is n oloseo positi The novel valve structure shown in Figs. 19 through 14 is of extremely simple construetion, and the valve assembly shown in 13 is simple and economical to fabricate, and is readily removable and replaceable on the stud $59. The sealing ring 61 is formed from a minimum amount of material; if it should become worn out after an extended period oi use, the elementand the .disks 6d and 6.5 carrying the same mayfbe discarded and replaced by a new assembly at very little cost.

Another closure structure is shown in Figs. :1 and In this. stru ture the who sem is indioated so e-orall by the nil-lit l 5. an s ri idly i fl l iidfl t the and oi a s ud 76 which per- a carries a compression spring H and washer 18 in back of a head 19. The stud i6 is removably carried by a mounting plate 80 having a slot with an enlarged end whereby the stud may be attached to or removed from said plate.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided for directing water which is poured into the filler opening 33 toward the cooler portions of the boiler whereby the likelihood of sputtering and eruptions is minimized and largely eliminated when the fiat iron is being refilled while hot. Referring to Figs. 1, 5 and 10, this means comprises a deflector plate 81 which is preferably formed integral with the funnel 34, said plate extending angularly downward and rearward whereby it deflects water to the rear part of the boiler 22. This part of the boiler is cooler than the front and side parts which are directly over the heating element H. Thus the water entering the filler opening 33 does not immediately strike the hotter portions of the boiler, and therefore steam is not quickly formed dur ing the initial filling operation. As a consequence, the likelihood of eruptions occurring during the filling of the iron when hot has been i largely eliminated.

In accordance with the invention, improved baiile means are provided within the boiler 22 whereby any discharge of water through the steam openings ill of the sole plate iii is eliminated even though the fiat iron is vigorously manipulated during use. This means coinprises front and rear transverse upright baffles and extending across the boiler 22 as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, in spaced relation to the steam pipe M. The side and top edges of the baffles 82 and 83 extend closely adjacent the inner side and top surfaces of the boiler, the rear baille 83 at its top being curled backward at 84 as shown in Fig. 1.

Between the baiiles 82 and 83 a horizontal baffle 85 is provided through which the steam pipe 44 passes, the baiiie 85 being located approximately midway between the top and bottom walls of the boiler 22. the horizontal baiile 85 engage the front and rear baffles 82 and curled flanges 8E and 3? are provided on said portions, extending inward or towards each other and overlying the portions. ably secured in place by welding.

I have found that by this organization the water which is in the lower portions of the boiler 22 is effectively prevented from splashing up and into the top end of the steam pipe 44, since the upright transverse bafiles 82 and 83 more or less confine the splashes to the areas removed from the steam pipe. Moreover, the horizontal baflie 35 divides the area surrounding the steam pipe i l into lower and upper chambers, and water in the lower chamber will be prevented from splashing into the upper chamber by said horizontal baffle. Any water which is in the upper chamber, above the baffle 85, will tend to quickly flow into the lower chamber, and while in the upper chamber will be prevented from splashing and reaching the top end of the steam pipe 44 by virtue of the flanges 85 and 8'! provided on the bafile 85.

As shown in Fig. 9, the transverse upright baffles 82 and 83 may be provided with notches 88 in their side edges to enable a circulation of water to be effected between the compartments of the boiler established by the said bafiies. It will be understood that the side edges of the horizontal bafiie 85 do not make a water-tight con- The front and rear portions of The bailles 82, 83, and are prefernection with the side walls 21 of the boiler 22;

thus water may readily flow from the upper chamber, above the bafile 85, to the lower chamber underneath the baffle 85.

The flat-iron of the present invention may be operated as a dry iron if no water is placed in the boiler 22. For such operation, the indicia plate 54, see Fig. 2, has an outer zone provided at different locations with the words linen, cotton, wool, silk, rayon-nylon, for use with the index mark 53.

When water is placed in the boiler 22, an inner zone on the plate 54 is used, this zone being labelled steam range, and having the words linen, cotton, wool, silk and rayon at different locations.

The arrangement of the plate 54 with the above indicia, in conjunction with the knob 16, provides for simplified and foolproof operation of the iron.

Variations and modifications may be made Within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1.. In a steam-electric iron, a casing having a pair of spaced vertical, oppositely located outer walls facing each other adjacent the rear of the sole plate, and having oppositely located bearing apertures in said walls; a handle structure having a mounting portion interposed between said casing walls, provided with recesses aligned with and juxtaposed to the bearing apertures; bearing pins slidably carried in said recesses and extending into the said bearing apertures, said pins having shoulders engageable with the opposite walls of the casing, and being completely retractable into said recesses; and springs in said recesses, engaging the bearing pins and yieldably maintaining the shoulders thereof in engagement with said casing walls.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the casing has a second pair of outer walls located respectively in spaced relation to said first pair of walls, and is open at the bottom between said walls whereby a tool may be inserted through said bottom to retract the bearing pins and release the handle structure from the casing.

3. In a steam-electric iron, a casing having a pair of spaced vertical, oppositely located outer walls facing each other adjacent the rear of the sole plate, and having oppositely located hearing openings in said walls; a handle structure having a mounting portion interposed between said casing walls and provided with recesses aligned with and juxtoposed to the bearing openings; bearing pins slidably carried in said recesses and extending into said bearing openings, said pins being completely retractable into the recesses; and springs in said recesses, engaging the bearing pins and yieldably maintaining the same in projecting position wherein they extend into the bearing openings of the casing walls.

4. In a steam-electric iron of the type having a casing and a handle structure hinged to the casing and adapted to swing back to uncover a filler opening, the improvement which comprises: said handle structure having a broad, generally horizontal base portion carrying front and rear upright handle posts, said base portion having an opening therethrough at the back of the rear post, and said casing having a manually operable member projecting upward therefrom and through the opening of said base portion; and hinge means connecting together the casing and base portion of the handle structure, said means assesses reference with said i'nd'icia when the handle" structureis in operating positionto enable" read ings tobe had.

6. The-'invention as defined-in-claimd; irrwhi'cli" the manually operable member hasindicia v on"- its top surface and in which-thehandlestructn-rehas a shield having a window; sazid 'sliield being located atthe opening in said base portion to-coverthe top 'ofthe member whereby the'win' dow exposes-a portion only ofsaid member when-- the handlestructureis ii-r operating position,

thereby: toenable an operator to" read" said in dicta through the window:

7. -asteam electria iron of the typehaving' acasi-ng a hand-lestructurehinged to the casing and adapted to swing back to uncover a filler opening; the improvement which comprises: said handle structure having a broadgenerally'horizontal base portion overlyin'g'the top of the casing andl carryingvfrontandrear upright handle. posts, said base portionhaving an opens" ingpth'erethrough at the backs-of the rearspost and said casing having an upwardly projecting shaft anclva knob on said shaftdisposedin-the opening offsaid base portion; hinge means :connecting together the casing and base portion of the handle structure, said means being located to the rear of the opening of the base portion;

terminals within the casing adjacent the said shaft, said casing having an opening to provide for access to said terminals when the handle structure is swung back; and a removable cover plate carried by the casing, covering the opening thereof and enclosing said terminals.

8. In a steam-electric iron, a hinged handle structure; a valve mechanism for use with a filler opening to close the same, comprising a circular generally flat hollow body having in one side wall a slot with an enlarged end; a stud axially movable on said handle structure, for supporting said valve body, said stud having a head portion adapted to be inserted in said slot and retained in the body; sealing means carried by the body at the periphery thereof to provide sealing engagement between the body and the walls of the filler opening in said iron; yieldable means carried by said stud, engaging the body to continuously urge the latter to an extended position on the stud; and yieldable means engaging said stud and handle structure to continuously urge the stud to an extended position on said structure.

9. In a steam-electric iron having an electrically-heated sole plate and a horizontal boiler disposed over the sole plate, said boiler at its rear central portion being spaced away from the sole plate and being cooler thereby at said portion and having a filler opening in its top intermediate the front and rear, the improvement which comprises: a deflector in said boiler below said filler opening, extending angularly downward and rearward in a direction to deflect liquid, which is poured through said opening, to the rear, cooler part of the boiler, thereby to minimize the likelihood of eruptions when filling a hot iron.

10. In a steam-electric iron having an electrically-heated sole plate and a horizontal boiler disposed over the sole plate, said boiler at its 1 0- rear central portion being spaced away" from the sole platean'd being cooler thereby at said per-- tion and h-aving arfiller openingii-i-"it's-top inter mediate the front-end rear; the improvement 7 comprises: a-- tunnel insaidboilerbelow saidfilIer-opening; an-d a defle or at the bottomoi the funne extending angul arly downward and rearward a directibn: to deflect-'- liquid, wliicliii'spouredthrough said opening, to the rear-,-

cooler part of the boiler, thereby to minimize the l ileiiliood' or ernptions wlierr filli ng a not been; I

Hi In asteam-eleetric-iron-of "the type having a horizontal boiler -provided with a -steam dome;-

z and liav-i ng an upright steam pipelocated sub-- stantially midway between:its sid'es and extehd-- ihg-dromthe bottom'oi theboile intd said steani dome iih '"improvemen t 'whicl ico prises: aip'ai r or upstanding transverseibaffles the fro rearot'said- 'ipe; said baffles being spaced the pipe a I extending angnlarl y. away: therefrom: opposite directions and upWardcl'bse to the top of thesboilnand theside: edges "oi said bafiles being=closelyadjacent thezinside walls-of boiler whereby el confinedLspace-is provided around the'pip reducing thelikelihoo l being-splasl re o? the pipe,

I22 lira steameelectri'ciiron of: the type-having? of liqildidi ahorizontal:boiler providedwitlta steam dome;

and having. am upright steam: pipe located sub stantially midway'between its sides andextendingiromtl ieibottomleatherboiler'intoisaidisteam dbrnenthe improvement-which comprises; a pair: of upstanding transverse baffies at the front and rear of said pipe, said bafiies being spaced from the pipe and extending angularly away therefrom in opposite directions and upward close to the top of the boiler, and the side edges of said baflies being closely adjacent the inside walls of the boiler whereby a confined space is provided around the pipe, reducing the likelihood of liquid being splashed into the pipe; and a horizontal bafile in said confined space, dividing the space into communicating upper and lower chambers and preventing liquid in said lower chamber from splashing into the upper chamber.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12, in which there are substantially horizontal transverse bafile members disposed above the front and rear edges of said horizontal bafile and spaced therefrom, said members being connected to the upstanding baffles and preventing splashing of liquid in said upper chamber.

14. In a steam-electric iron having an electrically heated sole plate and a horizontal boiler disposed over the sole plate, said boiler having a filler opening with inwardly extended conical walls in its top intermediate the front and rear, the improvement which comprises: an intercepting plate in said boiler attached to said conical walls and having an end portion spaced below said filler opening and extending laterally across part of the space below the opening to intercept and distribute liquid, which is poured through said opening, in dispersed quantities generally to parts of the boiler removed from the opening, thereby to minimize the likelihood of eruptions when filling a hot iron.

15. In a steam-electric iron having an electrically-heated sole plate and a horizontal boiler disposed over the sole plate, said boiler having portions which are spaced away from the sole plate and are cooler thereby, and having a filler 11 opening in its top intermediate the front and rear, the improvement which comprises: a defiector plate within said boiler, disposed below said filler opening and extending across part of the area underlying the opening so as to distribute liquid which is poured through the opening in dispersed quantities over the bottom of the boiler including said cooler portions thereof, thereby to minimize the likelihood of eruptions when filling a hot iron.

16. In a steam-electric iron having an electrically heated sole plate and a horizontal boiler disposed over the sole plate, said boiler having a filler opening defined by a wall extending into the boiler in its top intermediate the front and rear, the improvement which comprises: a deflector plate integral with said wall within said boiler, disposed below said filler opening and extending across part of the area underlying the opening so as to distribute liquid which is poured through the opening in dispersed quantities over the bottom of the boiler, thereby to minimize the likelihood of eruptions when filling a hot iron.

17. In a steam-electric iron having an electrically-heated sole plate and a horizontal boiler disposed over the sole plate, said boiler having a filler opening in its top provided with a generally tapered seat, the improvement which comprises: a two-part sheet metal closure disk arranged to be received in said filler opening, said disk having central portions in intimate contact with each other and having a retaining groove around its edge; a ring formed of resilient gasket material, carried in said retaining groove; and manually operable means holding the closure disk and ring either in a sealing position against the tapered seat or in a filling position removed from said seat and opening.

18. In a steam-electric iron having an eccentrically-heated sole plate and a horizontal boiler disposed over the sole plate, said boiler having a filler opening in its top provided with a generally conical seat, the improvement which comprises: a two-part sheet metal circular closure disk arranged to be received in said filler opening, said disk having central portions in intimate contact with each other and having a retaining groove around its edge; an O-ring formed of resilient gasket material, carried in said retaining groove, said ring having a cross-section substantially as wide as it is long; and manually operable means holding the closure disk and ring either in a sealing position against the tapered seat or in a filling position removed from said seat and opening.

JOSEPH O. TI-IIBAULT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,189,709 Deems Feb. 6, 1940 2,192,425 Allen et al. Mar. 5, 1940 2,327,600 Kennon Aug. 24, 1943 2,475,572 Schreyer July 5, 1949 

